8-KRegulation FD

EMERSON ELECTRIC CO 8-K Report, Regulation FD Disclosure (May 17, 2005)

Filed May 17, 2005For Securities:EMR

Summary

This 8-K filing from Emerson Electric Co. (EMR) dated May 17, 2005, primarily provides an update on the company's order trends and reiterates its full-year financial guidance. The company reported solid order growth for the trailing three months ending April 2005, with a total increase of 5% to 10%. Key growth drivers were Process Management, Network Power, and Industrial Automation segments, benefiting from global capital spending, industrial demand, and a favorable currency exchange rate which contributed approximately 3.5 percentage points to the overall growth. While most segments showed strength, Climate Technologies experienced a slight decline due to challenging year-over-year comparisons and weaker demand in specific regions and product lines. The company also announced that its CEO, David N. Farr, would reaffirm the previously issued fiscal year 2005 guidance at an upcoming investor conference, projecting sales growth of 9% to 11% and earnings per share growth of 12% to 16%. Investors should note the positive order momentum in core segments and the reaffirmation of strong financial targets.

Key Highlights

  • 1Emerson Electric reported a consolidated underlying order growth of 5% to 10% for the trailing three months ending April 2005.
  • 2Process Management, Industrial Automation, and Network Power segments were key contributors to order growth, driven by capital spending and industrial demand.
  • 3Favorable currency exchange rates positively impacted total order growth by approximately 3.5 percentage points.
  • 4The Climate Technologies segment faced headwinds, showing declining orders due to tough prior-year comparisons and weaker market demand in certain areas.
  • 5Appliance and Tools segment experienced mixed results, with strength in storage offset by weaker performance in motors, appliances, and tools.
  • 6CEO David N. Farr is set to reaffirm fiscal year 2005 guidance at an upcoming investor conference.
  • 7The reaffirmed guidance projects sales growth of 9% to 11% and earnings per share growth of 12% to 16% for fiscal year 2005.

Frequently Asked Questions

Order growth was primarily driven by the Process Management, Network Power, and Industrial Automation segments. Strong global project activity, continued capital spending and industrial demand, and a favorable currency exchange rate contributed significantly.

The Climate Technologies segment experienced softer orders. This was attributed to tougher comparisons against a strong prior year (2004), slower demand in air conditioning, weak European market conditions, and excess customer inventory in China.

The company plans to reaffirm its previously issued guidance for fiscal year 2005. It expects sales growth between 9% and 11%, and earnings per share growth between 12% and 16%.

Favorable currency exchange rates contributed approximately 3.5 percentage points to the total reported order growth of 5% to 10% for the trailing three months ending April 2005.